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The South Carolina State Fair 2022: 23 October 2022   15 comments

Posted at 11:12 pm in closing

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Well, the South Carolina State Fair is once again over, and I'm sure they've already started tearing down the rides. The weather was good this year, not at all chilly, and the event seemed to me to be completely recovered from the dark days of 2020. If you have followed these posts over the the years, you know the kind of thing I like, and the Fair continued to provide that with plenty of neon, questionable foods, games where chance is not as big a factor as the players think, and happy crowds.

I did notice two specific changes this year on the Midway, where one of the swing attractions that I enjoy riding was missing. That one had kind of an antique look to the paneled artwork that provided a classy touch. I had to ride the Yo-Yo instead, which was OK, but not as good. The second change is that usually the side of the midway facing the stadium usually has some sort of log-flume or water ride, and I don't believe I saw one this year.

As was the case last year, the empty park where the Steel Building used to stand was a frontier village concept (unlike the dinosaur exhibit which has also occupied that space). They had a glass-blower, which is always interesting, but unfortunately I wandered through between shows.

The art building has been re-arranged, with the flower exhibit put in the back where the student art usually goes, along with some kind of huge Moon exhibit. Unfortunately I got to the flowers pretty late, so the blossoms were definitely not at their peak, and many had been removed though there were definitely still some nice ones. I've always wondered about the student art, as I don't recall any of our classes in elementary school being asked to enter work, and I don't believe my nieces' classes ever were either. Whereever it comes from, it's a bit daunting that the Kindergarteners are still better at it than I am.

The vendor building seemed a bit less packed than usual. In particular, I did not notice the jerky vendor who is usually there, and there didn't seem to be any vendors pushing cool new Christmas toys.

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Missing:

Written by ted on October 23rd, 2022

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15 Responses to 'The South Carolina State Fair 2022: 23 October 2022'

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  1. The jerky vendor was near the sand sculpture. I saw it while I was killing time when my wife was using the massage chair. The sand sculpture was a nice Goldilocks theme but wasn't nearly as elaborate as years past.

    Matt

    24 Oct 22 at 10:01 am

  2. Hmm. I didn't make it into that building until yesterday evening (the last day), so maybe he had packed up already...

    ted

    24 Oct 22 at 10:53 am

  3. Anybody else heard anything about the University wanting to purchase the Fairgrounds, in their continued efforts to enhance the game day experience?

    Providing the scuttlebutt is correct, The Fair would then be relocated to the Farmers Market.

    Lone Wolf

    25 Oct 22 at 5:49 pm

  4. Man, I hope not!

    The University needs to learn that it's not *all* about USC...

    ted

    25 Oct 22 at 10:31 pm

  5. I'm with Ted as far as the University needing to learn it isn't all about the UofSC...the thing that used to bother me is the lack of parking and a couple of lots I remember being utilized when I went there that are no longer around.

    I know people here were upset when the Farmers Market moved out to US 321 and I have a feeling that if that were to come to pass for the fairgrounds, people would have similar sentiments.

    One more thing, anyone else (besides me) think it's not the best idea to have the fair and a SC football game on the same day.

    Andrew

    28 Oct 22 at 9:43 pm

  6. I talked with a couple showing sheep this year and they said one of the managers told them that the property was for sale and a bid was in. They did not have any details and I have been unable to confirm this information.

    Thomas S

    30 Oct 22 at 2:15 am

  7. I concur with the sentiment of the University needing to learn it's not all about the University. Don't let me get on my "student housing" rant...

    For it not to be all about the University, someone, at some point would have to tell the University "no". And, the University has deep pockets.

    It always seemed to me that having the Fair during football season was asking for headaches. College football season is 3 months long. There are 9 other months you could hold the Fair without subjecting everyone to such disastrous traffic.

    Lone Wolf

    30 Oct 22 at 7:25 am

  8. Regarding the Publix at Lake Crossing in Lexington, the new construction in front is a new "Express Oil and Tire Engineers" location. Seems like gas stations, car washes, and car maintenance businesses are trending.

    Robin

    30 Oct 22 at 4:02 pm

  9. As someone - I can't remember who - said, it's getting to a point where a good chunk of the Columbia population is not really from Columbia. Between the University students and, to a smaller extent, people doing short-term rentals, like Air BnB.

    Robin

    30 Oct 22 at 4:05 pm

  10. @Lone Wolf -- I would put it another way: The football season is 3 months long. The SC State Fair runs for two weekends a year and those dates are known years in advance. Is it really too much to not schedule a Home game for those two weekends?

    ted

    30 Oct 22 at 4:26 pm

  11. USC and the Fair shot this rumor down today

    Larry

    1 Nov 22 at 12:33 pm

  12. @Larry - I can't locate any more information about it. Did you find articles addressing it?

    Hey, I've been wrong before. I'd gotten this information from a couple independent, reliable sources. Thought I'd share.

    Lone Wolf

    2 Nov 22 at 10:51 am

  13. @LoneWolf - the State had an article yesterday that quoted USC saying they aren’t buying the Fair Grounds and the Fair saying it’s not being sold to anyone. Not sure how to link on here. However USC is interested in a development near Williams Brice and The Fairgrounds, but no details were mentioned.

    Larry

    2 Nov 22 at 12:00 pm

  14. @Larry - Great to know. Thank you very much, sir!

    Lone Wolf

    2 Nov 22 at 12:18 pm

  15. Ted's question is the same as mine (wondering about how hard it'd be to not have a home football game during those 2 weeks). Ideally it'd be a situation where they have an open date and an away game...

    Andrew

    4 Nov 22 at 8:23 pm

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